The basic format of the league is a combination of ATA singles and ATA handicap, only in team form. On each shooting night, each team member shoots 25 targets (125 total targets) from the 16-yard line (like ATA singles) and 25 targets (125 total targets) from their team's handicap yardage (similar to ATA handicap). The team's handicap yardage is determined based upon their 16-yard team total. If a team shoots well in their 16-yard round on a given night, they will have a long handicap yardage for their handicap round that night. Unlike ATA handicap (an individual competition); the entire team shoots from the same handicap yardage. This format helps level the playing field between experienced competitive teams and teams of new or more casual shooters. And, because a team's handicap is determined each night, regardless of a team's performance on previous night's, weather conditions have little effect on the outcome of a night's competition. If the weather causes one team to shoot poorly, chances are, it will cause the other teams to shoot poorly too.

On each shooting night, a team "shoots against" another team chosen "from the hat" at random. Each night is worth a total of three points toward a teamís league score. If one team outshoots the opposing team during their first round, they earn one point. If they outshoot the opposing team during their second round, they earn a second point. If their overall total is higher than that of the opposing team, they earn a third point. If there are any ties, the points are split. For example, let's say that Team A and Team B are shooting against each other. Team A hits 120 targets during their first found and Team B hits 115. Team A earns one point. The score is 1 to 0. Then, Team A hits 120 targets during their second round and Team B hits 120. Since there is a tie, the points are split. The score is 1.5 to .5. The total number of targets hit by Team A is 240. The total for Team B is 235. So, Team A earns one point. The total score for the night is 2.5 to .5. Team A is the winner that night. As the season progresses, these points are added up. The team with the most points is, logically, in 1st place. The last night of the season is called "position night". On that night, the 1st place team shoots against the 2nd place team, the 3rd place team shoots against the 4th place team, and so on. This gives each team one more opportunity to gain ground on their closest competitor. At the end of the season, the league is divided into equally-sized groups (usually three or four groups, depending on the number of teams competing). These groupings are based on team points totals. The team with the highest points total for each group will be named group champion. This gives every team a chance to compete for a group title, regardless of their overall league ranking.

Trap League Rules

Rule #1 - Team Membership

Teams will consist of five (5) shooters. Teams may also have substitute shooters, striving for a full team every week. No new substitute shooters may be added to a team during the final three (3) weeks of the season. No team may shoot with less than three shooters. If a team can not field at least three shooters for a league night, they must either forfeit the points for that night or make up that night's round according to Rule #5. A team will not be allowed to sign up with an open position if an available team member is present.

Rule #2 - Number of Targets

Each league night, each team will shoot one round of 16 yard targets and one round of handicap targets. Each round will consist of 125 targets (25 targets per shooter). The total team score for the 16 yard round will determine the yardage for the handicap round, according to the league's yardage chart.

Rule #3 - Scoring System

Each league night, each team will "shoot against" another team for a total of three (3) points. The team with the higher total score, out of 125, for the first round will receive one (1) point. The team with the higher total score, out of 125, for the second round will receive one (1) point. The team with the highest total score, out of 250, for the night will receive one (1) point. If there is a tie for any of these three possible points, the point will be divided; each team receiving one half of one (.5) point. The points received by each team will be added to that team's season points total. At the end of the league season, the team with the highest season points total will be the league champion.

Rule #4 - Failure to Fire

A contestant will be allowed two (2) failures to fire during the first round and two (2) failures to fire during the second round of each league night. Failure to fire is defined as either neglecting to fire when a legal bird is thrown or what is commonly known as a 'soft load'. A soft load is a defective fire occurring when a target is called for, the shooter fires, and the shell does not fire properly (dented primer does not ignite) and the wad does not clear the barrel. If the wad and shot clear the barrel, a lost target will be recorded. Once two failures to fire have been recorded for a particular round, each subsequent failure to fire will result in a lost bird being recorded.

Rule #5 - League Schedule & Makeup Rounds

The summer league begins on the first Tuesday in April. A league score board will not be posted until the first Tuesday in May. During this four week grace period, new teams may join the league and make-up the rounds that they have missed. After this grace period, teams will be allowed to fall behind by no more than 2 weeks. If a team misses a third week, the points for that week will be forfeited. Make-up rounds will be recorded in order. Example: If a team is behind by one week and shoots two rounds the following week, the first round that the team shoots will be recorded for the missing week and the second round will be recorded for the current week.

Rule #6 - Averages & High-Gun

Individual averages will be kept for the purpose of determining team high-gun awards. Competitors must shoot 75% of the scheduled league nights to qualify for the high-gun award competition.

Rule #7 - Score Keeping

You may not keep score for your own team. Score sheets must be returned to the clubhouse immediately following the completion of a team's round.

Rule #8 - Position Night

The final night of the league season will be considered position night. The team that is in 1st place will shoot against the team in 2nd place; the team in 3rd place will shoot against the team in 4th place and so on.

Rule #9 - Team Competition

As mentioned in Rule #3, each league night, each team will "shoot against" another team. The team match-ups will not be determined until each night's competition has been completed. Team match-ups will be determined by "luck of the draw". The exception to this rule is position night (see Rule #3 and Rule #8).

Rule #10 - Substitute Averages and Scores

If a team signs up to shoot with less than five shooters, the average for each "no shooter" will be based on the averages of the shooters who will actually be shooting that night. This "average of averages" will be calculated by adding together the averages of the shooters who will actually be shooting that night and dividing by the number of actual shooters. Only whole targets will be counted. Example: An average of 44.66 will be recorded as 44.

If a team signs up to shoot with less than five shooters, the score for each "no shooter" will be based on the scores of the shooters who will actually be shooting that night with a five target penalty for each missing shooter. After the team has completed shooting for the night, the "no shooter" score will be calculated by adding together the total scores of the shooters who actually shot that night and dividing by the number of actual shooters. Only whole targets will be counted. Example: A score of 44.66 will be recorded as 44.

Rule #11 - Prize Money and Shooting Fees

For each shooting night, $2 of each shooter's entrance fees will go toward prize money to be awarded at the season's end. If a team shoots with less than five shooters, the team is responsible for paying this $2 for each missing shooter.

Questions and Disputes:

All disputes will be resolved by the 'Range Marshall', who is appointed yearly.